Policy & Political Action

Submissions

As a partner in the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy (SFO) for more than a decade, RNAO knows it is critical not to undermine advances that have been made through the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. The primary public health concerns with respect to use of cannabis in public spaces are: harms from second-hand cannabis smoke; potential harms of exposure to second-hand cannabis vapour; and concern about the social renormalization of smoking.

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses (RNs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and nursing students in all settings and roles across Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contributions to shaping the health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve. A key determinant of public policy is the budget, as it allocates resources between different and competing ends.

RNAO welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy on Bill 174, An Act to enact the Cannabis Act, 2017, the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation Act, 2017 and the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017, to repeal two Acts and to make amendments to the Highway Traffic Act respecting alcohol, drugs and other matters. For this submission, RNAO will use the short title of Bill 174, the Cannabis, Smoke-Free Ontario and Road Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017.

RNAO is pleased to offer its submission on Bill 160, Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act, 2017.

RNAO supports Bill 160's objectives of strengthening transparency, accountability and quality of care in a person-centred health system. However, we caution against the unintended consequences of a number of the measures in the bill, such as expanding the practice of paramedics to primary care, accelerating privatization of health services, and further compromising safety of residents in long-term care.

RNAO appreciates the opportunity to provide additional feedback to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on Bill 148, An Act to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 and the Labor Relations Act, 1995 and to make related amendments to other Acts or the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017. As nurses, we see firsthand the devastating consequences of low wages and precarious work on people's health and wellbeing.

Submission to Population and Public Health Division, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

RNAO welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC), Population and Public Health Division, on the Report of the Minister's Expert Panel on Public Health entitled "Public Health within an Integrated Health System". Together with the input of RNAO's Community Health Nurses' Interest Group (CHNIG), experts working in public health settings across Ontario, we offer our response and recommendations.

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses (RN), nurse practitioners (NP) and nursing students in all settings and roles across Ontario. It is the strong, credible voice leading the nursing profession to influence and promote healthy public policy. RNAO welcomes this opportunity to respond to Toronto's Emergency Management Program and Revisions to the Toronto Municipal Code (EX28.13).1

We welcome the opportunity to provide feedback to the Standing Committee on General Government on Bill 163, An Act to enact the Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, 2017 and to amend the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in relation to abortion services.